Guardiola misery at Man City: ‘Kovacic and Gundogan go AWOL’
Pep Guardiola is enduring a losing streak unlike any in his career and has yet to find a reliable alternative to Rodri in defensive midfield.
The Cityzens have now lost nine of their last 12 matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on 21 December.
Despite signing Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic in recent transfer windows, neither player has successfully filled the crucial defensive midfield role.
Rodri’s injury in September has left a glaring void in their performances. Without him, City has lacked the dominance and cohesion that once defined their title-winning campaigns. The current team looks like a shadow of the reigning champions.
Man City midfield misery continues as Pep Guardiola can’t find a solution
The only win in City’s last ten matches came against Nottingham Forest, where Kevin De Bruyne returned to the starting XI and delivered a standout performance.
However, that momentum quickly fizzled out as their defensive midfield issues continue to haunt the side.
On 21 December, Manchester Evening News reported that Bruno Guimarães and Martin Zubimendi are both unlikely to join the club in January. Both players had been strongly linked to City, giving fans hope for a capable replacement. Now, those prospects seem bleak.
Frustration among fans has even turned toward Guardiola—a remarkable shift for a manager who led the team to four consecutive Premier League titles. But City’s form has nosedived. They are effectively out of the title race and risk humiliation in the Champions League.
Rather than pursuing elite midfielders, the club is reportedly considering stop-gap signings like Paul Pogba. While Pogba might have been an exciting prospect six years ago, this rumoured approach raises questions about their transfer strategy.
The statistics underscore the problem. Since the start of last season, Guardiola’s side went unbeaten in 36 matches with Rodri in the starting XI. Since his injury, their form has spiralled, and there’s no sign of recovery.
If they fail to beat PSG in the Champions League, they could face automatic elimination. Domestically, they already trail the league leaders by nine points—a gap that could stretch to 12 if Liverpool win their next game.
The squad looks fatigued, uninspired, and weighed down by the looming shadow of the 115 charges still hanging over the club. This season is rapidly becoming one of Guardiola’s most challenging yet.
In other news, Man City are unlikely to land a deal for this midfielder.
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